↓
 

News Progress

More news about the people of Moultrie County than any other newspaper in the world

  • Home
  • News
    • News Briefs
    • Jail Report
    • Mo. Co. Most Wanted
    • Obituaries
  • Feature Stories
  • Sports
  • Editorials
  • Social
    • Video Archive
    • Poll Archive
  • Links
    • News Progress Staff
    • History of the News Progress
    • RR's Portfolio
  • Email Us
  • General News Submissions
  • Subscription
    • Members Area
    • Current Issue
    • Manage Your Profile
  • Login

Submit a news item, obituary, or legal notice to advertise@newsprogress.com

March 17, 2026 Election Results

Post navigation

← Older posts
Newer posts →

Obituaries 6-25-2025: Morris Luck

News Progress Posted on June 25, 2025 by webmasterJune 25, 2025

Morris D. Luck, 87, of Bethany, passed away at 3:00 a.m. Thursday, June 19, 2025 in St. Mary’s Hospital, Decatur.

Celebration of Life services were held Monday, June 23, 2025 at the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan with Adam McReynolds officiating. Burial was in the Marrowbone Twp. Cemetery, Bethany. Memorials are suggested to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Bethany. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.

Read More
Posted in Obituaries

Obituaries 6-25-2025: Gerald Elzy

News Progress Posted on June 25, 2025 by webmasterJune 25, 2025

Gerald Dean Elzy, 92, of Sullivan, joined his beloved wife in Heaven at 1:45 a.m. Friday, June 13, 2025.

Memorial graveside services will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Greenhill Cemetery, Sullivan. McMullin-Young Funeral Home is in care of the arrangements.

Read More
Posted in Obituaries

Obituaries 6-25-2025: Daniel Bathe

News Progress Posted on June 25, 2025 by webmasterJune 25, 2025

Daniel Leslie Bathe, 70, of Sullivan, passed away Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at his home.

Services will be held at a later date. McMullin-Young Funeral Home is in care of the arrangements.

Read More
Posted in Obituaries

Recent Obituaries: Morris Luck

News Progress Posted on June 22, 2025 by webmasterJune 22, 2025

Morris D. Luck, 87, of Bethany, passed away at 3:00 a.m. Thursday, June 19, 2025 in St. Mary’s Hospital, Decatur.

Celebration of Life services will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, June 23, 2025 at the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan with Adam McReynolds officiating. Burial will be in the Marrowbone Twp. Cemetery, Bethany. Visitation will be from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Sunday evening at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Bethany. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.

Morris was born on May 23, 1938 in Farmer City, Illinois, the son of Cleo M. and Dorthea B. Dolberts Luck. He married Marjorie A. McReynolds on September 11, 1960 in Bethany and she preceded him in death on December 24, 2020.

Survivors include his children Cynthia ‘Cindy’ (Tom) Burch of Westervelt, Illinois, David (Diolil) Luck of Bethany and Daniel ‘Danny’ (Marissa) Luck of Sullivan; grandchildren Wade Burch, Sarah Burch (fiancé Matt Harford), Kinley Luck (fiancé Drew Heffley), Madison (Trevor) Blackburn, Hallie (Bryce) Burks-Chavira, Landyn (Preston) Richardson and Mason Luck; great grandchildren Brenna Howell, Annie Harford, Cora Blackburn, Thea Heffley, Levi Richardson and another great granddaughter to be born in September.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, daughter Jeanne Luck, one brother and one sister.

Morris had a love for animals especially Angus cattle. This passion was evident early in his life when he participated in the cattle show at the Illinois State Fair at the age of 8. As an adult, visiting the Illinois State Fair to watch the Angus show was a highlight of his summer. Morris was a University of Illinois graduate where he was a member of the 1959 U of I Livestock Judging team. He was the Moultrie County 4-H summer assistant during his college years. During that time he met the love of his life Marjorie McReynolds. Morris managed several Angus cattle farms during his working career including farms in Brewster, New York, Ontario, Canada, Appleton City, Missouri and Olathe, Kansas In his latter years he found employment with Moorman Feeds, as a truck driver for Agri-Fab and a school bus driver. Morris was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Bethany. In his retirement years, Morris could be seen sitting on his front porch watching his grandkids or visiting with friends and neighbors, sharing a story or laugh. Morris touched many lives and will be missed and remembered by those who knew him.

Posted in Recent Obituaries

Obituaries 6-18-2025: Barbara Smith

News Progress Posted on June 18, 2025 by webmasterJune 18, 2025

Barbara Sue Smith, 80, of Lovington, passed away 5:37 a.m. on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at her home. 

Read More
Posted in Obituaries

Obituaries 6-18-2025: James Myers

News Progress Posted on June 18, 2025 by webmasterJune 18, 2025

James L. Myers, 87, of Dundee Florida, passed away at 9:11 a.m. Friday June 6, 2025 in Winter Haven Hospital, Winter Haven, Florida.

Read More
Posted in Obituaries

Obituaries: Alice ‘Kathy’ Mitchell

News Progress Posted on June 16, 2025 by webmasterJune 16, 2025

Alice K. ‘Kathy’ Mitchell, 78, of Sullivan, passed away at 3:04 a.m. Friday June 13, 2025 in Decatur Memorial Hospital.

Celebration of Life services will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday June 17, 2025 in the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan with Pastor Don Lusk officiating. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until service time. Burial will be in the Greenhill Cemetery, Sullivan. Memorials are suggested to St Jude Children’s Hospital. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.  

Kathy was born August 3,1946 in Sullivan, the daughter of Helen McDonald. She had operated a beauty shop in Sullivan for many years and later was an IT Manager for First Ag Consulting in Roswell, Georgia. Her greatest joy was raising her family. Kathy was a member of the Sullivan Southern Baptist Church and had formerly been a member of the Sullivan Baptist Church. She married Arnold Dean Mitchell on January 6, 1967 in Sullivan and he preceded her in death on May 22, 2021.

Surviving are her sons Brandon Parrish (Lynn) Mitchell of Cumming, Georgia, Jason Heath (Shawna) Mitchell of Great Falls, Montana and Erik Dean (Tara) Mitchell of Forsyth; special brother Michael Watt of New Lenox; special sister Virginia Risley of Sullivan; grandchildren Kyle, Erik, Regan, Lynsey, Ally, Peyton, Maci, Hayden and Hallie.

She was preceded in death by her parents and special sisters Carolyn Shackles and Sharon Dinger.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Erika Piper and her special staff at Heritage Woods for their unconditional love and care of their mother.

Posted in Recent Obituaries

Recent Obituaries: James L. Myers

News Progress Posted on June 13, 2025 by webmasterJune 13, 2025

James L. Myers, 87, of Dundee Florida, passed away at 9:11 a.m. Friday June 6, 2025 in Winter Haven Hospital, Winter Haven, Florida.

Celebration of Life services will be 11:30 a.m. Saturday June 14, 2025 at Sullivan Faith Lutheran Church with Pastor Justin Cullen officiating. Military rites will be conducted by the Sullivan American Legion Post # 68. Visitation will be at the church from 10:30 a.m. until service time. Burial will be at a later date. Memorials are suggested to Grace Lutheran Church, Winter Haven, Florida or to The Giving Place that supports family needs in Sullivan and surrounding area. Arrangements by Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.

Jim was born May 7, 1938 in Decatur, the son of Jean W. Myers, Sr. and Cynthia B. Dunham. Jim’s professional life was the James Myers and Associates in Dundee, Florida with areas of marketing expertise including Life Insurance, Fixed Equity Annuities, Pre-Paid Legal Services and Air and Water Purification. Jim professional background also spans many years of experience including that of a Graduate Engineer, supervising workers at a General Electric plant, teaching college courses, designing and implementing specially custom made programs for people that included Estate Planning. Jim married Nancy Baker on September 19, 1965. He then married Helen Meyer on December 14, 1985 in Champaign.

Surviving are his wife Helen of Dundee, Florida, daughter Elizabeth Houser of Sullivan; brother Jean W. Myers, Jr. and his wife Lois of Arnold, Missouri; sister Margaret (Maggie) Myers of San Antonio, Texas; grandsons Kedrick (Keeley) Houser and Kyler (Tatum) Houser both of Sullivan and three great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and son-in-law Tommy Houser.

In memory of Jim please do something kind for someone else, as he would do.

Posted in Recent Obituaries

Recent Obituaries: Barbara Smith

News Progress Posted on June 11, 2025 by webmasterJune 11, 2025

Barbara Sue Smith, 80, of Lovington, passed away 5:37 a.m. on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at her home. 

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, June 16, 2025, at the McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Lovington. Visitation will be an hour prior to the services Monday, at the funeral home. Burial will take place in the Keller Cemetery, Lovington. Memorials may be made to the Lovington Volunteer Ambulance Service or to Moultrie County PAWs: 10 Leisure Acres, Sullivan, IL 61951

Sue was born December 12, 1944, in Iola; the daughter of Wilson Leroy and Dolly Opal (Ramsey) Colclasure. She married Troy Derrell Smith on March 1, 1963, in Sullivan; he preceded her in death on February 5, 2014. Sue retired from Agri-Fab after working there for 25 years. She enjoyed reading books, garage sales, Koi Ponds and going out with her metal detector. Sue loved spending time with her family.

She is survived by her daughters, Laura (Robert) Scott of Sullivan and Kimberly (Thomas) Fleming of Lovington; brother, Arthur Leroy (Sonny) Colclasure of Allenville; sisters, Zelma Reynolds of Allenville, Ellen (Roger) Hunter of Sullivan, Stella Harlin of Allenville and Kathy Carey of Mattoon. Sue was also survived by 3 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, 1 brother and 1 grandson.

Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mcmullinyoung.com

Posted in Recent Obituaries

Obituaries 6-11-2025: Michael Welch

News Progress Posted on June 11, 2025 by webmasterJune 11, 2025

Michael Welch

Michael B. Welch, 64, of  Lake Whales, Florida passed away at 2:55 p.m. Saturday June 7, 2025 in the Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida.

Arrangements are incomplete at Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan.

Posted in Obituaries

Post navigation

← Older posts
Newer posts →

 

“Together, We Give Back to School”



News Progress


Photo Submitted

“Together, We Give Back to School”

Sullivan Elementary School recently received 60 backpacks filled with school supplies through Amazon’s “Together, We Give Back to School” campaign. End of the Line Tackle & Bait, an Amazon delivery partner, nominated Sullivan Elementary for the program, and the school’s submission was selected to receive the donation. Pictured (left to right) are Cameron Martin, Taylor Lilly, James Martin, Marla Martin and Angela McRill following the July 27 delivery.


© 2024 - News Progress
Privacy Policy and Terms of Use

100 W. Monroe St., Sullivan, IL 61951 Phone: 217-728-7381 | Open: Hours Vary

↑